I am passionate about carpentry because it is something that has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. For the last two years, I have attended the carpentry program at Thomas Edison High School of Technology, where I earned my NCCER Level One and Level Two certifications. My dad is a carpenter, and when I was younger, he used to take me to job sites with him. Watching him work made me fall in love with the trade and inspired me to pursue it myself. I enjoy working with my hands, staying active, and seeing a project come together from start to finish. There is something rewarding about building something that people can actually use and appreciate. Carpentry has also taught me patience, teamwork, responsibility, and problem solving skills that I know will help me throughout my future career. After completing my trade education, my long term goal is to become a project manager. I plan to attend Montgomery College for two years while living at home to save money, and FAFSA will help cover most of my expenses. After that, I plan to transfer to Frostburg State University to earn my bachelor’s degree because they offer strong financial aid opportunities. While attending school, I also plan to continue working in carpentry since I will graduate from Thomas Edison double certified in the trade. Before deciding on project management, I considered going fully into carpentry or even accounting because I have always enjoyed math and organization. In the end, project management felt like the perfect fit for me because it combines leadership, planning, organization, and hands on experience. I like being able to organize projects, solve problems, and work with a team to make things successful. One adversity I have faced in my life has been being a female in carpentry. Since carpentry is a male dominated trade, there were times when people doubted my abilities before even seeing what I could do. Sometimes classmates or others would offer help when I did not need it, or they would look surprised when I could complete the same work as everyone else. There were also moments when I felt underestimated just because I was a girl. Instead of letting that discourage me, I worked harder to prove myself through my actions. I stayed focused, continued learning, and showed that I was just as capable as anyone else in the shop. Over time, I gained confidence in myself and earned the respect of the people around me. That experience taught me to never let stereotypes define what I can accomplish and to always keep pushing forward no matter what challenges I face.

What motivates me to pursue a career in the trades? I've loved working with my hands most of my life. It all started with my carpenter father—he's been my biggest role model from the beginning. When he asked me to start helping with side jobs at thirteen, how could I say no? Soon, every Saturday, I went to jobs with him, learning the basics of framing and finishing work. That time, just him and me, was special in our big family, and I found real joy in it. So when it came time to start thinking about the future and what I would do as a career, I saw one choice: carpentry. I applied for Thomas Edison High School of Technology, a mini trade school for high school kids, and got accepted to their carpentry program, which started my junior year of high school. I didn't know how hands-on it would be till I got there. Through my Edison career, we built a house. YA 44 student built a house, to be exact, all of my best memories happened on that job site and I learned so much from it, starting as just a carpenter and becoming a crew lead my senior year, being in charge of a group of juniors and senior carpenters gave me not only joy but purpose to strengthen the love I had for the trade I started thinking about specifics to my career and further that's when a teacher brought up construction management degrees, it would help me get a foot in for project major which would allow me to help people do something I love and allow me to still pursue a construction-related field without my mom losing it about me not going to college. But here's the thing, college is expensive even doing the 2 years at community costs ten thousand dollars per year so any small bit helps i have continued to work monday through friday and almost my entire paycheck goes to college saving loans aren't a option since i dont want a crippling debt for the rest of my life and my parents cant help much due to both my sisters being in university for bachelors degrees and my brothers soccer expense plus bills and they want to move in the next 2 years but i refuse to let any of that stop my from pursuing a career in what i love and what will be able to financially sustain me for my life.

Growing up in a lower-income family had taught me early on that sometimes helping others doesn’t look the way most people expect. When people think about helping someone in need, they often imagine volunteering for strangers or doing community service. For me, helping someone meant supporting someone close to home, like my little brother. When he first became interested in sports, my younger brother was only eight years old. For a short time, my family was able to put him in a soccer program because he received a scholarship. He loved the sport and looked forward to every practice, especially the social aspect. However, in 2022, my parents lost the scholarship, and suddenly, he couldn’t play anymore. That same year, I started working my first job. At the time, my plan was very simple: save up money so I could buy my own car when my sophomore year came around. Things changed one night when my brother, who was thirteen at the time, came into my room crying. It honestly broke my heart. He told me that all of his friends were still playing soccer and hanging out at practice, while he had to stay home. Seeing how upset he was reminded me of how it felt when I had to give up something I loved. In that moment, I realized that helping him was more important than buying a car. From then on, I set a new goal. Every paycheck I earned went straight into my savings, but no longer for a car. Instead, I saved money so my brother could return to his soccer team. When the winter indoor season started, I went to my parents and explained that I wanted to pay for it myself. They had not wanted me to spend my money, but after some convincing, I signed him up for the team, paid the registration fees, and kept saving so he could continue playing. By 2024, my brother had qualified for the scholarship again. Knowing that he could return to the sport he loved meant everything to me. I’m proud I was able to help him when he needed it most. Helping my brother taught me that making sacrifices for the people you care about is one of the most meaningful ways to help others. I may not have bought the car I originally planned for, but seeing my brother happy on the soccer field was worth far more.

I'm going into finance and accounting because it's a career where logic, structure, order, and clarity are key, and numbers are the only things that make sense to my brain. There is always a right and wrong answer, and that clarity brings me a sense of comfort and control. Accounting offers stability and reliability, which is very important to me due to my upbringing. I grew up with not much money and way too many people in one house, making it hard to study. There was always lots of noise, pulse, I come from a big family, so there was an extended family over constantly. Growing up in a house where finances were never stable, dad being the sole provider, being a single parent, well, making sure his kids had all he could give. There were 6 people in a 3-bedroom townhouse, but at least there was a roof over our heads. The only thing in school that made sense was math. It was a significant factor in choosing my career that I could work with numbers and provide for myself financially. I was the go-to for my siblings and cousins for any math work. Due to constantly helping with math ,I got really interested in it which is what accounting and finance offer. I chose to get higher education so I can make a better life than I had growing up, and hopefully one day help my dad with his finances and give him a better, calmer life. I also give credit to my sister, my older sister made the biggest impact on my life, with my mom not being present due to her mental health and her and my dad's divorce, and my dad working 24/7. She was one of the only consistent role models I have. She showed me how the world works and never sugarcoated it. She's the reason I read about politics and became self-educated on staying informed. I aspired to be like her in school, keeping my grades up and mimicking her work ethic. She never stopped pushing me to be better and dream bigger. She is the reason I am the person I am today, and a big reason I pursue further education. We don't have much money, so this scholarship would truly be a big help. I wanna grow up to be as hard working as the people i grew up watching.

Growing up as an LGBTQ+ individual has shaped my identity in ways that are both painful and empowering. Coming out as bisexual was not a single moment, but a series of realizations followed by consequences I was not prepared for. Members of my extended family stopped speaking to me altogether, choosing distance over understanding. Words meant to dismiss my identity, calling it “just a phase,” came from people I loved, including my own sister. That rejection left lasting scars, and for a long time, it made me question my worth and whether I truly belonged anywhere. Although some family members eventually came around, the relationships were never fully repaired. Even now, there is an emotional distance that remains. Learning to live with that reality forced me to mature quickly. I had to build my own sense of belonging and find strength within myself when the support I expected from family was no longer there. Being LGBTQ+ taught me resilience, self-advocacy, and empathy for others who feel unseen or unheard. One of the hardest realities I face is that I will receive no financial support from my parents for my education. This is not only a financial burden, but an emotional one—knowing that I must navigate higher education completely on my own. Despite this, I refuse to let rejection define my future. Instead, it fuels my determination to succeed and create change. My aspiration for higher education is not only to earn a degree, but to gain the knowledge and tools needed to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and support marginalized communities. I want to be a voice for those who are silenced, especially young LGBTQ+ individuals who feel abandoned or invalidated by their families. Through education, I hope to work in spaces that promote inclusivity, equality, and social justice—whether through advocacy, policy, education, or community outreach. I want to help create environments where people are not forced to choose between being themselves and being accepted. Receiving this scholarship would significantly alleviate the financial stress that currently threatens my ability to pursue higher education. Without family financial support, every expense from tuition to books becomes a barrier. This scholarship would allow me to focus on my studies rather than constant financial survival. More importantly, it would represent belief belief in my potential, my resilience, and my commitment to making a difference. As an LGBTQ+ individual, I have learned that progress often begins with courage. I carry my experiences with me not as limitations, but as motivation. With the support of this scholarship, I will continue forward not only for myself, but for the countless others who deserve a future rooted in acceptance, dignity, and equality.

Growing up as an LGBTQ+ individual has shaped my identity in ways that are both painful and empowering. Coming out as bisexual was not a single moment, but a series of realizations followed by consequences I was not prepared for. Members of my extended family stopped speaking to me altogether, choosing distance over understanding. Words meant to dismiss my identity, calling it “just a phase,” came from people I loved, including my own sister. That rejection left lasting scars, and for a long time, it made me question my worth and whether I truly belonged anywhere. Although some family members eventually came around, the relationships were never fully repaired. Even now, there is an emotional distance that remains. Learning to live with that reality forced me to mature quickly. I had to build my own sense of belonging and find strength within myself when the support I expected from family was no longer there. Being LGBTQ+ taught me resilience, self-advocacy, and empathy for others who feel unseen or unheard. One of the hardest realities I face is that I will receive no financial support from my parents for my education. This is not only a financial burden, but an emotional one, knowing that I must navigate higher education completely on my own. Despite this, I refuse to let rejection define my future. Instead, it fuels my determination to succeed and create change. My aspiration for higher education is not only to earn a degree, but to gain the knowledge and tools needed to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and support marginalized communities. I want to be a voice for those who are silenced, especially young LGBTQ+ individuals who feel abandoned or invalidated by their families. Through education, I hope to work in spaces that promote inclusivity, equality, and social justice, whether through advocacy, policy, education, or community outreach. I want to help create environments where people are not forced to choose between being themselves and being accepted. Receiving this scholarship would significantly alleviate the financial stress that currently threatens my ability to pursue higher education. Without family financial support, every expense from tuition to books becomes a barrier. This scholarship would allow me to focus on my studies rather than constant financial survival. More importantly, it would represent belief in my potential, my resilience, and my commitment to making a difference. As an LGBTQ+ individual, I have learned that progress often begins with courage. I carry my experiences with me not as limitations, but as motivation. With the support of this scholarship, I will continue forward not only for myself, but for the countless others who deserve a future rooted in acceptance, dignity, and equality.

Some teachers teach lessons. Others change lives. Ms. Curtis is the kind of teacher whose impact stays with you long after you leave her classroom. She didn’t just help me understand math, she helped me understand myself, rediscover my love for learning, and feel supported during some of the most overwhelming moments of my life. From the moment I met her as my class para freshman year to when she took over halfway through my geometry class sophomore year, Ms. Curtis saw something in me that many others had missed. My brain moves quickly, especially when it comes to math, and instead of letting that turn into boredom or frustration, she challenged me. She constantly pushed me to think deeper, try harder problems, and stay engaged. Because of her, I wasn’t just completing assignments, and I was learning, growing, and enjoying school again. She reminded me what it felt like to be excited to walk into a classroom, and she played a major role in helping me fall back in love with school. What made Ms. Curtis truly special, though, was not just her teaching style, but her heart. She always had a listening ear when other classes didn’t make sense or when I felt overwhelmed and frustrated. She never rushed me, dismissed my concerns, or made me feel like I was asking too much. Instead, she listened with patience and understanding, making me feel heard and valued. In a school environment where it’s easy to feel like just another student, Ms. Curtis made me feel important. Outside of academics, Ms. Curtis created something even more meaningful a safe space. There were days when family situations felt heavy and emotions became too much to carry. On those days, Ms. Curtis understood that sometimes learning has to pause so a student can breathe. She kept her classroom open during lunch so that I, along with other students, could step away from the noise and chaos and have a quiet moment. That simple act of kindness meant more than she probably realized. It gave me peace, comfort, and a sense of safety during moments when I desperately needed it. Because of Ms. Curtis, I learned that school can be a place of understanding, not pressure. She taught me that my fast-moving mind is not something to hide, but something to embrace. Her encouragement helped rebuild my confidence, not only in math, but in myself. She showed me that success isn’t just measured by grades, but by growth, resilience, and feeling supported. Ms. Curtis has had a lasting impact on my life. Her belief in me, her willingness to challenge me, and her compassion during difficult moments shaped the student and person I am today. I will always be grateful for the way she made me feel seen, understood, and capable. Teachers like Ms. Curtis don’t just teach , they leave a permanent mark on the hearts of their students, and she has certainly left one on mine. She showed me to always pick kindness.